Antidepressant 2-[(substituted-1-naphthylmethyl)amino]-1-phenylpropanols

ABSTRACT

Certain 2-[(substituted-1-naphthylmethyl)amino]-1-phenylpropanols of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R&#39; is hydrogen or methoxy and R is hydrogen or 5,8-dichloro possess pharmacological activity as antidepressants.

This invention relates to chemical compounds. In particular it is concerned with compounds of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R' is hydrogen or methoxy and R is hydrogen or 5,8-dichloro. These compounds possess pharmacological activity affecting the central nervous system. When administered perorally to animals they exhibit antidepressant action. This antidepressant property is evidenced in the control of tetrabenazine-induced ptosis in mice. An oral dose of 50 mg/kg of these compounds to mice intraperitoneally receiving 35 mg/kg of tetrabenazine counteract the ptosis producing property of tetrabenazine.

The preparation of the compounds of this invention can be accomplished according to the following scheme: ##STR3##

In this scheme R' and R have the significance previously ascribed.

In order that this invention be readily available to and understood by those skilled in the art the following examples are supplied:

EXAMPLE I 2-(1-Naphthylmethylamino)-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride

A mixture of 78.0 g (0.50 mole) of 1-naphthaldehyde, 50.5 g (0.50 mole) triethylamine, 93.5 g (0.50 mole) of 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride, and 500 ml CH₃ OH was stirred and refluxed for 45 minutes, then cooled to 15°-20° while 14.0 g (0.38 mole) of sodium borohydride was added over 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 30 minutes, and diluted with 700 ml H₂ O. The mixture was stirred for 60 minutes and extracted with 600 ml CHCl₃ followed by 100 ml CHCl₃. The combined organic extracts were washed with 200 ml H₂ O, dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated to dryness in vacuo to give 129 g of the free base of the product.

Treatment of 30.5 g (0.105 mole) sample of the free base dissolved in ethanol with ethanolic hydrogen chloride gave 22.8 g (66%) of the product, m.p. 204°-206°. An analytical sample, m.p. 204°-206°, was obtained by recrystallization from isopropanol.

Anal. Calcd. for C₂₀ H₂₁ NO.HCl: C, 73.27; H, 6.77; N, 4.27. Found: C, 72.98; H, 6.79; N, 4.20.

EXAMPLE II 2-(5,8-Dichloro-1-naphthylmethylamino)-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride

A mixture of 28.0 g (0.124 mole) of 5,8-dichloro-1-naphthaldehyde 12.4 g (0.124 mole) triethylamine, 23.2 g (0.124 mole) 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride, and 300 ml CH₃ OH was stirred and refluxed for one hour, then cooled to 20°-30° while 7.60 g (0.20 mole) of sodium borohydride was added over 15 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 13/4 hours and diluted with 500 ml H₂ O. The mixture was extracted with 2 × 200 ml CHCl₃. The combined extracts were dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to dryness in vacuo to give 46 g of the free base of the product. Treatment of a 12.0 g (0.033 mole) sample of the free base dissolved in ethanol with ethanolic hydrogen chloride gave 8.3 g (63%) of the product, m.p. 238°-241°. An analytical sample, m.p. 241° -244°, was obtained by recrystallization from absolute ethanol.

Anal. Calcd. for C₂₀ H₁₉ Cl₂ NO: C, 60.54; H, 5.08; N, 3.53. Found: C, 60.43; H, 5.04; N, 3.37.

EXAMPLE III 2-(2-Methoxy-1-naphthylmethylamino)-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride

A mixture of 74.4 g (0.40 mole) 2-methoxy-1-naphthaldehyde, 74.8 g (0.40 mole) 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride, 40 g (0.40 mole) triethylamine, and 500 ml CH₃ OH was stirred and refluxed for 1.0 hours, then cooled to 10°-20° while sodium borohydride (15.2 g, 0.40 mole) was added over 20 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 90 minutes and diluted with 500 ml H₂ O. The mixture was extracted with 2 × 300 ml CHCl₃. The combined organic extracts were dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to dryness in vacuo to give 132 g of the free base.

Treatment of a 34.0 g (0.106 mole) sample of the free base dissolved in 200 ml ethanol with 50 ml ethanolic hydrogen chloride gave 26.9 g (79%) of the product, m.p. 208°-210°. The analytical sample, m.p. 208°-210°, was obtained by drying the above product at 61° over NaOH in vacuo.

Anal. Calcd. for C₂₁ H₂₃ NO₂.HCl: C, 70.48; H, 6.76; N, 3.91. Found: C, 70.78; H, 6.60; H, 3.70. 

What is claimed is:
 1. The compound 2-(5,8-dichloro-1-naphthylmethylamino)-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride.
 2. The compound 2-(2-methoxy-1-naphthylmethylamino)-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride. 